Citizen Participation in Natural Resource Governance: A Case of Oil in South Sudan

Abstract

South Sudan has immense economic potential in its natural resource wealth, such as oil. Nevertheless, the resources have not been utilised towards development. Instead, it has experienced resource conflicts that compromise the continent's peace and security. This paper evaluates the role of citizen participation in natural resource governance in South Sudan and its impacts on oil governance. The paper hypothesises that citizen participation is critical in natural resource governance and a vital tool for promoting peace and security in societies. It argues from the perspective of natural resource conflicts and governance. It asserts that citizen participation addresses negative aspects such as corruption, lack of transparency and accountability, gender discrimination, and ethnic polarisation. It argues that there is a great need to enhance structures that support citizen participation towards effective governance of resources and, hence, sustainable peace. The paper adopted the mixed-methods research methodology.